Greek Islands

I’m continuing my guides to the Cyclades, bringing you tips about things to see and do in Naxos, which is the largest island of the Cyclades archipelago. The island has a lot to offer: beaches, archaeological sites, picturesque villages and of course delicious food! So, here we go! Beaches in Naxos What I loved in Naxos was the long sandy beaches. The water was crystal clear and inviting, albeit cold. In a nutshell the ones I liked the most are the following: Plaka – long beach with sand dunes, not very crowded Pyrgaki – this beach is on the South…

Being married to a Cretan means that I get the chance to visit this beautiful island multiple times per year. I’ve explored a lot of cities, villages and beaches but the fact is that I still have lots to explore! Ugh! Anyways! Today’s post is all about the picturesque city of Rethymno, which lies conveniently between the two large cities of Chania and Heraklion. It has a lot of similarities with the former as the Venetian influence is more prominent than in Heraklion (where they did a pretty good job on not highlighting the dry docks or the fortifications). Its…

Last month I had the opportunity to visit Amorgos island for work, but you know how the drill goes: spend the morning working and the afternoon sightseeing. Thankfully we had planned the trip after the daylight saving time date, so we had long afternoons to spend around the island. The lowdown on Amorgos Amorgos belongs to the Cyclades archipelago and is the easternmost island of the group, located almost in the middle of the Aegean Sea. It’s primarily a mountainous island, with raw beauty and whitewashed villages. The island has two natural ports: Aegiali and Katapola.That’s where most of the accommodation…

This post has been a long time in the making, but I’m finally sharing with you my whereabouts in Chania, which I visited over the holidays! Chania is a very picturesque city in west Crete, famous for its Venetian build old port and old town full of cobblestone streets and colorful buildings. The city also played a great role in the efforts of Crete’s independence from the Ottoman rule and the unification with Greece. Nowadays Chania is a popular travel destination for Greeks and foreigners alike. So here’s a mini guide on the places I visited (and photographed) during my weekend there!…

I’m sure you’re all familiar with the word labyrinth, aren’t you? You might as well have heard about the myth of Minotaur, the half bull half human creature which was killed by Theseus with the help of Ariadne. Yes I know, lots of characters in just one sentence, but you can read the (quick) story over at Wikipedia. Well, today I’m taking you to the actual place where this myth takes place: the city and palace of Knossos. The archaeological site The city and palace of Knossos date from 1700BC. The site was discovered in late 19th century by Minos…

“What are you doing next weekend?” said my friend, “Come along with us, we are going to Elafonisos. They say the sea there is Caribbean turquoise”. I jumped on the opportunity and visited the small island. That was 5 years ago. Since then I’ve been to Elafonisos twice more (the most recent visit being a few weeks ago) and since I love it so much (the beach is indeed divine), it’s time to introduce it to you too! Elafonisos (Ελαφόνησος) is a small island off the coast of southeastern Peloponnese in the region of Lakonia. It’s a popular relaxing holiday…

During the last 3 years I’m spending my vacations in Crete (even got married there) as my husband comes from the island. His village is located in the center of Crete (literally), so we can venture out either to the west or the east in (almost) equal time! In the past we took road trips mostly to the west in the regions of Rethymno and Chania, as there are more interesting beaches there, including Elafonisi, one of the Greek beaches you shouldn’t miss! This year though I decided to take a road trip to the east, visiting Agios Nikolaos, Plaka and Ierapetra,…

In case you were wondering, yes all these Greek Island guides serve one and only purpose: to make you visit Greece! Today’s post is yet another island with gorgeous beaches. Only this time we’re moving west to the Ionian Sea. Ladies and gentlemen I present you Lefkada! What to see and do The beaches are Lefkada’s biggest assets no questions asked! I will elaborate on those further one. Vasiliki and Nydri are two seaside villages with marinas, restaurants and hotels. Karya is a traditional village up in the mountain where you are going to find delicious food and local embroidery….

Mykonos is an island with many faces and many target groups of visitors: the party animals, the jet setters, the bohemians and those who just like the island! What to see and do There lot’s of things one can do in Mykonos and these activities can be tailored to one’s preference. Mykonos town is very picturesque and you can walk around, shop and dine. Walking up to the windmills and taking photos of little Venice is a must! Beach lounging and swimming is a must during the summer so check out the following list of beaches you shouldn’t miss! Mykonos is…

Greek islands are a popular summer destination and it’s easy to understand why: the sea, the sun, the whitewashed villages, the delicious food! Pins like this help as well, right? But when the time comes to sit down and actually plan a trip to the Greek Islands, logistic questions arise: which islands to choose when it’s the ideal period to visit, how do I get there and so on. I come across these questions ever so often so I decided to tackle them one by one: 1) When is it the ideal time to visit the Greek Islands? If you…

As you can imagine, during my trips in the US and Canada and my life in Boston, I’ve accumulated lots of photos, tips and suggestions to share with you. With a rough calculation, I have 4 months worth of blog content about travelling!! But, it’s officially summer and I’m back home in Greece, so all I want to blog about is beaches, islands and vacation ideas! A few weeks back I shared with you my mini guide on how to choose a Greek island for your vacations. Today, I’m sharing with you 10 Greek beaches you shouldn’t miss (and why)!…